How should I use the passive voice in Spanish?

The passive voice is a part of Spanish grammar that can be deceptive for English speakers. At the basic level, the passive voice in English and Spanish are very similar in grammatical structure: ser + el participio pasivo: Los libros son escritos (por Juan). / to be + participle: The books are written (by Juan).However, this type of passive voice is used more rarely in Spanish than in English. The passive is also very often expressed with the use of "se" to make verbs reflexive: Se vende la ropa antigua aquí. / Vintage clothes are sold here.Although less common, the passive voice can also be expressed in one of 2 ways:1.different verb + participle (most often estar): Este retrato está pintando con una gama de colores. / This painting is painted with a range of colours. Here, the passive voice expresses the result of the action, rather than the action (painting) itself.2.The use of an unidentified agent in 3rd person plural: Venden verduras en el mercado. / Vegetables are sold at the market.(Literally, "they sell vegetables at the market".)While these are useful to keep in mind, the most important methods of forming the passive are ser + participio and se + verb.